A King of Plagiarism in the Irish Examiner
The English Independent Journalist, Johann Hari, is a proven plagiarist
One of the Dublin Establishment’s favourite Unionists, Stephen King, who has a regular column in the Irish Examiner, seems to sing a similar tune.
Stephen King. Ireland’s Very Own
“Harigate” Scandal?
http://ansionnachfionn.com/2011/10/06/stephen-king-irelands-very-own-harigate-scandal/
Surely, we should protect Doctor King, in the interests of the peace process?
Why get bothered about journalistic standards, or trivial things like the facts?
Proceedings of the Campaign Against Household and Water Tax National Forum
Teachers Club, Dublin, Saturday 10th September 2011.
The following is an unofficial record written up from notes on the day. In some cases I did not catch who the speaker from the floor was and he or she is identified by an initial or as Speaker 1, etc. Speakers are tagged by the identification (party affiliation etc.) that they declared before speaking. If a name is wrong or there is any unintended misrepresentation of what someone actually said I apologise and will rectify it if notified.
Des Derwin
The big hall in the Teachers Club was full with plenty of people standing. It was later said from the platform that over 200 had registered from 16 different counties. There were perhaps a few dozen more than that present. Most currents of the far left were represented.
Malachy Steenson (ACRA and Workers Party) chaired and opened the first session. He explained that there would be two sessions, the first on ‘why we are here’ and the political dimensions, and the second on building the campaign.
Joe Higgins TD (Socialist Party) opened the first session. Spoke first as gaeilge and said that there were people from all over including from gaeltacht areas of Donegal and Galway. We had a victory over water charges before. He had some time ago invited representatives of the left groups to discuss a campaign. An interim steering committee had been formed. We now need a national, well-organised campaign. When the household tax was announced in July the steering committee called this meeting today. Read the rest of this entry »
Left blocked: An interview with Portugese Left Bloc activist Ricardo Sá Ferreira
From Red Pepper magazine, August-September 2011;
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/ Available from Book Upstairs, College Green, Dublin.
What will the ‘bailout’ mean for ordinary people in Portugal?
The ‘bailout’ is not financial help, it is extortion – it is going to give them a €520 million profit after they intervene in the Portuguese economy. The Portuguese people know this, but the hegemonic discourse dictates that it is ‘inevitable’ and without this package, the economy will go under. However, people know that the ‘bailout’ also means more austerity, compression of the workers’ wages, less public services, more VAT and the progressive destruction of the welfare state.
How has the Left Bloc responded to the financial crisis, and to the austerity that has already been imposed?
We have responded through social mobilisation and by presenting concrete legislative proposals that would be able to cut superfluous spending, while at the same time raise enough revenue for the state to pay off the deficit, without sacrificing the economy and the workers. This could be done by taxing fortunes and financial transactions to off-shore banks, the implementation of a new tax bracket where the rich are taxed more, and renegotiating the public debt in order for the economy to breathe. However, the real response must come from the streets. Read the rest of this entry »
Helena Sheehan Leaves the Labour Party
Here is a very welcome statement from Helena Sheehan (copied from her facebook page).
I do not however agree with supporting Michael D Higgins in the Presidential Race – in other blogs I have argued that the radical left should try to convert the presidential election into a proxy referendum on ECB / IMF Reverse Robin Hood “stealing from the poor, giving to the rich” menu.
http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/meanwhile-back-at-the-presidential-election-campaign/
More recently Robert Ballagh has promoted a similar strategy, but has made it clear he will not himself be a candidate :
Time to leave the Labour Party
It is time to draw a line under my 30 year membership of the Labour Party. It is past time actually, as I have not been active at branch or constituency level for the past 15 years. There were many reasons for this, including the demands of my academic job. I did remain active politically, but not in a way that was so focused on the Labour Party or even electoral politics. I recognise the importance of electoral politics, but it has never been the area in which I felt I had a particular contribution to make. During the years of Labour Left, of which I was a founding member, we tried to create a deeper political intellectual culture in the Labour Party. Once this ended, I didn’t see so much of a role for myself. Nevertheless, I remained. Read the rest of this entry »
International report on the ULA Forum
What seems a very comprehensive report on the ULA and the ULA Forum of 25th June has been filed by Dick Nichols, correspondent in Europe for Green Left Weekly/Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal’s, the excellent Australian/International journal (now website). The report at the link below is also appended by the post-Forum debate documents from the Socialist Party and the SWP. I hope to supplement the Links feature soon with other reports and analysis of (and to) the Forum that have appeared. There is also a helpful link at the top of the report to all the Links coverage of the ULA.
Des Derwin
Northern Ireland News – Be Shocked, But Not Surprised – Prisoners Abused By the State
Two quotes sum up stories which should shock :
Over the last year, political prisoners in Maghaberry have faced a range of abuses of their human rights. More recently, Marian Price has been effectively interned, her licence revoked after 30 years of freedom. Worse, she is the only woman prisoner in Maghaberry, which means she is very isolated.
This public meeting has been organised by a broad-based group of women, many of whom do not agree with the political views of the prisoners whose rights they want to defend. But it is the case all over the world that, if we don’t stand up for the rights of all, whatever their political views, all of us will suffer in the end. Speakers at the meeting are families of the prisoners, including Marian Price’s sister. The meeting will be chaired by Bernadette McAliskey.
More Details Here :
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237249876294398
Here is Quote Number 2 :
A report which could end the protest by republican prisoners at Maghaberry jail has gathered dust on the desk of Justice Minister, David Ford, for eight months.
The secret document – drawn up by respected individuals hand-picked by Mr Ford – lays out a clear way of ending the bitter confrontation between dissident inmates and the prison authorities.
…….
the main recommendation of the report – given to Mr Ford last October – indicates the confrontation could be swiftly resolved. New technology – whereby prisoners are searched with scanners and then sit in an x-ray-type machine called a BOSS chair – could bring peace to the jail, the authors suggest.
………
The report was compiled by former NIO political director, Chris McCabe; Peter Bunting, assistant general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions; and two experienced conflict resolution negotiators – Dutch woman Fleur Ravensbergen and Conal McFeely from Derry.
Full Report here :
Congratulations to Goretti Horgan and Bernadette McAliskey – Their example should be followed.
The ULA: two reports and an article
Two report of the ULA Forum on 25th June can be found at:
(from the SWP) http://www.swp.ie/editorial/after-united-left-alliance-forum/4602
and (from the ‘Weekly Worker’ [CPGB]) at:
http://www.cpgb.org.uk/article.php?article_id=1004455
In issue 44 (June 2011) of Red Banner magazine, ‘The vote changes nothing: the struggle continues’ by Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh “offers a view of the political landscape for the left following February’s election”. This long and interesting study of the ULA manages to never mention the ULA by name.
Des Derwin
AFTER ULA MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR LOWLY PAID, 300 PACK LIBERTY HALL FOR ULA FORUM
From Paddy Healy 086-4183732. For a detailed discussion on way ahead in Trade Unions, read “How ICTU Failed Us, The Necessity for Election, Re-Election of General Secretaries” on my Blog:http://wp.me/pKzXa-gw
AFTER ULA MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR LOWLY PAID, 300 PACK LIBERTY HALL FOR ULA FORUM
On Thursday last Richard Bruton announced that the bill to cut the pay of shop assistants, cleaners, agricultural labourers and others on JLC rates and those covered by Registered Employment Agreements was being deferred until the Autumn. This followed the discussion in the Dail of a private members motion from the ULA calling on the government to abandon the measure. The Labour Party and Fine Gael voted down the motion, but the array of deputies voting for the motion frightened the Labour Party. Voting for the motion were Seamus Healy , Joan Collins T, Joe Higgins, Richard Boyd-Barrett, Clare Daly (all ULA), Thomas Pringle, John Halligan, Catherine Murphy, Maureen O’Sullivan, Finian McGrath, Luke Ming Flanagan, Tom Fleming (All Technical Group). Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail also supported the motion. On the proposal of Cllr Declan Bree (ULA), Sligo Co Council had already passed the motion.
There was a “robust discussion” after Bruton addressed the parliamentary Labour Party on the following day. Bruton then announced the deferral. Clearly the ULA are in a position to exert serious pressure on government on behalf of the poor and employees generally due to the threat posed to the Labour Party. ULA will remain highly vigilant in order to be in a position to resist the bill when and if it is introduced. Meetings on the issue in several centres will continue. The next public meeting will be held in Hearns Hotel Clonmel on Thursday June 30 at 8 pm. The meeting will be addressed by Seamus Healy TD, Pat Neill, President of Clonmel Trades Council, and Paddy Healy , Steering Committee ULA Read the rest of this entry »
Minutes of ULA Forum 25th June 2011
Such industry! What a service! lenihanm has posted minutes of the two ULA Forum plenary sessions over on the ‘Rank Savage Spit’ blog. At a quick glance they seem eerily accurate. Between these and Paula’s films the internet will have expanded Liberty Hall to all.
http://ranksavagespit.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/minutes-from-the-united-left-alliance-forum/
DD
Tomás Ó Flatharta 